At 6'8, Fechtman was at the time the tallest player in Indiana
University history. He had never played a game of basketball prior to
enrolling at IU. He played only three games in the NBL. He later coached
at Greencastle High School in Indiana, and wound up the school
superintendent in Tell City, Indiana. He was married to Cora Shipp (1911-1989) and the couple had two sons, Richard (1949-2005) and John, and a daughter, Judith (c.1939- )